A study asked older and younger people about their transport needs and opinions. For younger people, the transition from education to employment was a key development stage in their lives during which it might be most effective to target efforts to influence their transport choices. Improving the frequency and reliability of public transport services was a key concern of both older and younger people.
Source: Tim Knight, Josie Dixon, Martha Warrener and Stephen Webster, Understanding the Travel Needs, Behaviour and Aspirations of People in Later Life, Department for Transport (0870 1226 236) | Jean Taylor, Matt Barnard, Clarissa White and Jane Lewis, Understanding the Travel Aspirations, Needs and Behaviour of Young Adults, Department for Transport
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | DT press release
Date: 2007-Nov
The Crown Prosecution Service began consultation on the prosecution of crimes against older people. It sought views on how it dealt with crimes against them and how it supported those who were victims and witnesses.
Source: Policy for Prosecuting Crimes Against the Older Person, Crown Prosecution Service (020 7796 8000)
Links: CPS press release | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Nov
An article presented findings from a national survey of quality of life in older age. The main aim of the analyses was to examine the definitions of quality of life given by people aged 65 and over, and the underlying reasons.
Source: Ann Bowling and Zahava Gabriel, 'Lay theories of quality of life in older age', Ageing and Society, Volume 27 Issue 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Nov
A new book said that the decline of infections, starvation, warfare, heart attack, and stroke had allowed people to reach extreme old age – but had ushered in disability, dementia, and degenerative disease, with profound consequences for the self and society.
Source: Guy Brown, The Living End: The future of death, aging and immortality, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Nov
A report said that the involvement of older citizens in local council decisions was blocked by practical constraints. The biggest obstacles to effective engagement were lack of money, and of staff skills and time.
Source: Sandra Vegeris et al., Beyond the Tick Box: Older citizen engagement in UK local government, Policy Studies Institute (020 7468 0468) and Better Government for Older People
Links: Report | PSI press release
Date: 2007-Oct
Researchers described the conditions of older men and women, and highlighted gender differences in their degree of social inclusion. Differences among older men and women with respect to service utilization, provision of informal care, and participation in social networks were often the consequence of differences in marital status and living arrangements rather than gender differences as such.
Source: Emilia Del Bono, Caroline Gunnell, Lavinia Parisi, Emanuela Sala and Ruth Hancock, Gender, Older People and Social Exclusion: A gendered review and secondary analysis of the data, Working Paper 2007-13, Institute for Social and Economic Research/University of Essex (01206 873087)
Links: Working paper
Date: 2007-Jul
A report said that older people?s growing capacity for organizing in the community could promote better social engagement and well-being in later life.
Source: Simon Goodenough, Unlocking the Community, International Longevity Centre – UK (020 7735 7565)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jul
An article examined the issues surrounding the experiences of ageing in Wales; the main social policy responses followed by the Welsh Assembly Government to an ageing population; and what form a Welsh social policy of ageing in the twenty-first century might take.
Source: Judith Phillips and Vanessa Burholt, 'Ageing in Wales: policy responses to an ageing population', Contemporary Wales, Volume 19 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jun
An article examined the associations between type of area, individuals? perceptions of their neighbourhoods, and indicators of social and physical functioning (focusing on older people). Respondents who lived in affluent areas were less likely to have low levels of social activity.
Source: Ann Bowling and Mai Stafford, 'How do objective and subjective assessments of neighbourhood influence social and physical functioning in older age? Findings from a British survey of ageing', Social Science & Medicine Volume 64 Issue 12
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jun
A new book examined the experiences of older people living in disadvantaged urban communities. Using older people's own accounts, it showed how people handled the potential risks that arose from the experience of poverty, social exclusion, and neighbourhood change.
Source: Thomas Scharf, Chris Phillipson and Allison Smith, Ageing in the City: Everyday life in poor neighbourhoods, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-May
A new book examined policies affecting the lives of older people, and why research into them was done in particular ways. Special attention was paid to feminist contributions, and new approaches to working in partnership with older people; age discrimination and ageism; the impact of neo-liberal policies and new human rights legislation; the 're-medicalization' of later life; the participation of older people in research; and justice between generations.
Source: Miriam Bernard and Thomas Scharf (eds.), Critical Perspectives on Ageing Societies, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-May
A new book examined changes in economic and social roles in older life, focusing on those 'caught in the middle' - people juggling paid work and caring responsibilities, while still supporting their own children. It investigated the relationship between such roles and a range of indicators of quality of life, including economic resources, health, and social activities.
Source: Maria Evandrou and Karen Glaser, Family, Work and Quality of Life for Older People, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Apr
The Scottish Executive published a strategy for how to respond to, and plan for, a Scotland with an ageing population. There was a need to challenge existing perceptions about ageing, and promote a positive long-term vision which valued older people and allowed Scotland to benefit from their talents and experience.
Source: All Our Futures: Planning for a Scotland with an ageing population, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Strategy part 1 | Strategy part 2 | MORI research | MORI press release
Date: 2007-Mar
A report said that the number of people suffering from dementia would increase by 154 per cent, from 700,000 in 2007 to 1.735 million in 2051. Dementia cost the economy £17 billion a year.
Source: Martin Knapp et al., Dementia UK, Alzheimer's Society (020 7306 0606)
Links: Summary | Alzheimer's Society press release | LSE press release | Guardian report | BBC report | Community Care report | POST briefing
Date: 2007-Feb
A Scottish think-tank report said that the ageing 'crisis' was a myth, and that an older population did not represent an economic 'time bomb'. But working patterns for older people did need to become more flexible; and government, business, and citizens all needed to take urgent action to increase the numbers of older people in the workforce.
Source: Growing Older and Wiser Together: A futures view on positive ageing, Scotland?s Futures Forum (0131 348 5310)
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jan
